Trenchers Catering UK is able to offer advice to clients in full compliance with the legislation introduced by the EU on 13th December 2014 (EU FIC).
The legislation is good news for consumers as information about allergens will be made clearer and offered in a more consistent way, enabling clients to make safer food choices.
Clients (or those booking on behalf of clients) should make us aware of dietary requirements, in advance, so that we can provide specific advice, when required.? This includes severe intolerances or allergies.? As a buffet catering business, there is no requirement under the legislation for us to individually label foods, but we will provide general advice about the products we use, at the point of supply.? It remains clients? responsibility to pass this information on to consumers (people who actually eat our food).
In the legislation, there are fourteen major allergens identified:
| Allergen | Brief description | Will our food contain this item |
| Celery | Stalks, leaves and seeds and the root called celeriac. | We no longer use the raw salad item and it is not an ingredient in any product. |
| Cereals containing gluten | Found in foods containing flour. | All of our bread and cakes contain gluten.? If you have a gluten allergy, please tell us and we will supply gluten free products. |
| Crustaceans | Crab, lobster, prawn and scampi. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Eggs | Found in cakes, mayonnaise, sauces and pastries. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Fish | Fish can be in sauces, relishes, dressings and pastes. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Lupin | Can be used in some types of bread and pastries. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Milk | A common ingredient in butter, cheese, cream and yoghurt. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Molluscs | Includes mussels, land snails, squid and whelks. | We do not use this food group. |
| Mustard | Liquid mustard, mustard powder and mustard seeds. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Nuts | Nuts grown on trees. | We can exclude this item from your food, but we DO NOT OPERATE IN A NUT FREE ENVIRONMENT. |
| Peanuts | Known as groundnuts often used as an ingredient. | We can exclude this item from your food, but we DO NOT OPERATE IN A PEANUT FREE ENVIRONMENT. |
| Sesame seeds | Often found in bread, houmous and oils. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
| Soya | Often found in bean curd and is a staple ingredient in oriental food. | We do not use this food group. |
| Sulphur dioxide (sulphites) | Often used in dried raisins, apricots and prunes (and other items).? If you have asthma, you have a higher risk of developing a reaction to sulphur dioxide. | Please tell us if you have an allergy to this group, so that we can exclude these items from your buffet. |
If you have any doubts about your specific situation then there are two things to remember: first, ask us for advice.? Secondly, if your allergy is severe, if in doubt, do not consume our food.
If you are allergic to a food that is not on the regulatory list, it may not be included on the allergen information we give.? If in doubt, speak to us first.
Further information is available from us or from the Food Standards Agency (food.gov.uk).